Serving the community since 1922
Serving the community since 1922
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The community celebrated the holidays and threw a huge party in front of the Wasco High auditorium Saturday, ending the night with the annual Christmas tree lighting. The Orange Heart Foundation, Wasco Rose Festival Committee and Wasco High administration came together to host the event. The Orange Heart Foundation consists of President Traci Mills-Clendenen, Ruvi Ocampo and Orquidea Ocampo. The lighting of the Christmas tree has been an annual event in the city, even in 2020 during the...
The Wasco Community Scholarship Association will now be in charge of a golf tournament and its donated money. Jeff Acebedo has been working closely with the association since his father, Jesse Acebedo, was killed in a vehicle accident in 2017. Jeff Acebedo and his family have organized a successful golf tournament for the last few years in honor of Jesse. The family proposed that the donated funds from the tournament be turned over to the association and that the association absorb the golf...
Come in and meet Ajay, a small adult male chihuahua terrier mix. Ajay is black, brown and chocolate and has a short coat. He is good in a home with other dogs. Ajay came in as a stray and he is approximately 3-years old. He's timid toward staff and staff is monitoring his behavior daily. He has been tested with both small and large dogs. At the time it is unknown if Ajay is house/crate trained. Dogs are not tested with children and cats. He was available for adoption Dec. 3. Owners are aware of...
Wasco is bringing holiday traditions back to the community. Santa Claus will be arriving in Wasco on Saturday, Dec.11. He will be riding on a city fire truck with City Council members, who will help light the tree in front of the historic Wasco Union High School auditorium. The parade will begin at Broadway and travel down 7th Street, ending at Poplar Street. The tree will be lit at 7:15 p.m. The Wasco Rose Festival and Orange Heart Foundation are working together to bring this event to the...
Wasco Union High School District Superintendent Rob Cobb updated the community on the latest vaccine mandates that apply to staff and students. Cobb said in his November message despite the progress of in-person classes, homecoming and a fall sports season, challenges still lie ahead that he wants to provide clarity on such as the latest vaccine mandates as they apply to staff and students. Vaccine requirements for staff, effective Oct.15, all "school workers," including all school employees, su...
The number of people who have covid-19 continues to rise in Shafter and Wasco. On Nov. 23, the total number of infected in Shafter since March 2020 increased from 4,570 to 4,731, an increase of 161 newly infected. The number of infected continues to rise in Wasco from Nov. 23 of 6,748 cases to an increase of 93 on Nov. 30 of 6,841 cases. Michelle Corson, of Kern County Public Health, provided information on the new Omicron variant of the covid-19 virus. Corson said the California Department of...
Wasco High School Varsity Football Coach Chad Martinez was awarded KGET News' FFX inaugural "Coach of the Year." FFX stands for Friday Football Xtra from KGET News. "It's a great honor to be named Coach of the Year," Martinez said. "I accepted this award on behalf of my entire coaching staff." Martinez said he worked with the best coaches in the nation and gave a big shout out to his Offensive Coordinator Joe Dominguez. "He lit up the scoreboard all year with a dynamic offense on the ground and...
Wasco High School Varsity Football Coach Chad Martinez was awarded KGET News' FFX inaugural "Coach of the Year." FFX stands for Friday Football Xtra from KGET News. "It's a great honor to be named Coach of the Year," Martinez said. "I accepted this award on behalf of my entire coaching staff." Martinez said he worked with the best coaches in the nation and gave a big shout out to his Offensive Coordinator Joe Dominguez. "He lit up the scoreboard all year with a dynamic offense on the ground and...
You can't go wrong with a pet named Tator. You can nickname him Tator Tot and have fun with his name as well as fun with Tator. He is a small adult white/cream and brown Chihuahua. Tator is good in a home with other dogs. It is unknown how he is around children or cats. Tater came in as a stray. He is approximately a 4-5 year old, male, Chihuahua mix. He is great with staff and other dogs, and he has been tested with both small and large breeds. At the time it is unknown is Tater is house/crate...
Palm Avenue Middle School Principal Oscar Luna was appointed as a new board member to the Wasco Recreation and Parks District board. Sharon Sharp was also reappointed to the Wasco Recreation and Parks District Board. Luna and Sharp will serve four-year terms ending Nov. 30, 2025. City Manager Scott Hurlbert complimented Finance Director Isarel Perez-Hernandez on being selected to serve on the California Society of Municipal Finance Officers. Hurlbert said that Perez-Hernandez was specifically...
The city held a community meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 10 to present the results of a recent online streetscape survey. Concept design renderings were taped to the walls around the room so attendees could view the different ideas. The renderings included parklets - small parks and public spaces) - along with several ideas for optional elements that could be included in those spaces. The survey was for the beautification of downtown 7th Street and the park located at the southeast corner of 7th...
The Shafter/Wasco Rivalry, one of the oldest and fiercest in the county, resumed last week as the schools went head-to-head on the football field Friday. Wasco won this year, 46-20. Before the game, students held rallies to build school spirit. The rivalry was on hiatus last year because of the health and safety restrictions, but the rivalry picked up without missing a beat this year. The Generals had different Dress Up Days during the week, including one day in which they dressed up like their...
Many families began arriving at Barker Park on Oct. 28 well before 6 p.m. when the park's Trunk or Treat was officially to begin. A multitude of kids with parents snaked around Poplar all the way to Poso by the time the event officially started. "We ran out of candy by 7 p.m." Wasco Woman's Club member Jill Drescher said. "There were so many people at the park." Sgt. Peter Martinez was there because this was an event he had previously signed up for before he left the Wasco Substation and he was...
City Council meetings will again be held by Zoom. The City Council unanimously passed the following action regarding meeting protocol to hold all council meetings, until further notice, by teleconference (Zoom) pursuant to Assembly Bill 361 and a Government Code Section because there is a proclaimed state of emergency in the state and city and local officials recommended measures to promote social distancing as required. "This will be reviewed and renewed on a monthly basis," City Manager Scott...
Chris Serna needs no introduction to the residents of Wasco because she's been employed by the Recreation and Parks District for the past 18 years. Now she is the new district manager. Even though she is a Shafter resident, she has been employed in Wasco for the past 30 years. Serna was previously the Wasco Recreation and Parks District secretary and knows the ins and outs of the department. During rival game time, she roots for both teams as she shares a love for her adopted city of Wasco as...
If you are 65 years or older and fully vaccinated, you qualify for a booster shot, the Center for Disease Control announced. If you are over 18 and have underlying medical conditions, live in a long-term care facility or live in a high-risk setting, you are also eligible to receive the booster shot. Booster shots are now available for the Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines. You can get a booster shot at least 6 months after you complete your second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna...
Palm Avenue Middle School completed its third annual chess tournament. There were 16 participants ranging from sixth to eighth grade. Students wore masks and practiced sanitation and safe distance practices to insure the safety of all contestants. "Many of the students had been practicing for competition like this before," instructor Marcus Ballard said. "I've never seen a competition like this before as all of the participants had the ability to win the entire tournament." "Although chess has...
Clemens Elementary School announced their Special Students of the Week for the week ending Oct. 29. In third grade, teacher Belinda Martinez, front row, named Jesus Jimenez who worked hard on manners, Damian Mata who was always being kind to others and Victoria Bautista who is an all-around great student. In the middle row from left, Angela Gonzalez was recognized as being a role model student, Maria Mendoza was recognized for being helpful and kind to those around her and Madelynn Ruiz was...
Area residents will be among those surveyed about vaccine protection and antibodies. Kern County Public Health Services is collaborating with several different organizations where people were randomly selected to complete an anonymous survey as well as receive a free, at-home covid-19 antibody test. Those selected for the survey and free antibody test began receiving their packets Oct. 15. This information will allow Kern County Public Health to learn how many who have been immunized are protected against the virus and have built up...
The recently hired new Assistant City Manager Maria Lara is looking forward to facing her new job challenges. Lara has over 12 years of professional experience in local and state government. She has held various roles such as city manager, community development director and grant director. Her professional experience includes working for the City of McFarland, Idaho Housing and Finance Association as well as in the private sector. Lara has secured, managed and implemented more than $30 million...
Sgt. Peter Martinez told the City Council that Oct. 22 will be his last day as sergeant at the Kern County Sheriff's Office Wasco Substation. "I have really enjoyed the past four years in Wasco," Martinez said. "I learned a lot from the city council and the community." Martinez emphasized how much he loves the small town of Wasco and how much he enjoyed being here. "I got to know so many members of the community," he said. "Everywhere I went, I would run into someone I knew. That's what I love...
The Rose Festival Committee had to work quickly this year with three weeks to prepare after the festival got the OK from the City Council. "Several of us had been receiving inquiries from Wasco residents about whether or not there would be a parade and festival," committee member Sharon Sharp said. "When it looked like it would not happen, we decided to get a group together and see if it was feasible to arrange in three weeks. We believed Wasco should not go another year without those events."...
The Wasco Union Elementary School District Board has approved a new policy after the governor declared school staff must be vaccinated by Oct. 15. Superintendent Kelly Richers received unanimous board support for adding the policy. Richers said that Gov. Gavin Newsom's health order states all school staff must be vaccinated by Oct. 15 or be tested weekly. There are some exceptions that are allowed; however, other than religion, there are only very few specified exceptions. The policy put in...
Freshmen Jackie Mendez and Jacob Ruiz were crowned Homecoming King and Queen at the game against Cesar Chavez High School. Not only were two freshmen crowned, but the Varsity Tigers beat Chavez 41-8. The JV team tied their game against Chavez 8-8. Vendor booths were set up around part of the perimeter of the field and students, representing their clubs, broke through the stands selling their club's goodies. VFW member Don Johnson cheered on the Tigers as he was confident they would win the...
Although there weren't as many exhibitors or visitors to the Kern Country Fair, the fair was back in action this year. The fair began last week and was closed Monday, Sept. 27 and Tuesday, Sept. 28 for cleaning and sanitizing. The livestock area was in full operation during this shut down. Because of the poor air quality on Friday and Saturday, attendees walked around with a smoky smell in the air and particles floating in front of fairgoers' faces. There were several differences between...
